chapter 1 Using the NetWare Shell Files Overview Novell recently upgraded the NetWare shell to a new architecture referred to as NetWare DOS Requester™, replacing the NETX file series. If you want to upgrade your workstation software to use this new architecture, see Chapter 1, “About the NetWare DOS Requester,” in Workstation for DOS and Windows. If you choose to use the previous architecture, this chapter provides you with a basic overview of the NetWare shell files and with the procedures for using them with your DOS and Windows workstations. Topic Page “The Netware Shell Workstation Environment” 13 “Decompressing the LSL, Network Board Driver, and IPXODI 14 Files” “Updating the NetWare Shell Files from the LOGIN Directory” 15 “Updating the NetWare Shell Files from Diskette” 17 “Loading the Workstation Files” 18 “Understanding the NET.CFG File for the NetWare Shell” 19 “Understanding NetWare Shell File Command Options and 30 Concepts” “NETX.EXE (NetWare Conventional Memory Shell)” 30 “EMSNETX.EXE (NetWare Expanded Memory Shell)” 33 “XMSNETX.EXE (NetWare Extended Memory Shell)” 35 Using the NetWare Shell Files 1 Advantages of Using the NetWare DOS Requester The NetWare DOS Requester provides several new improvements over NETX: ◆ Supports NetWare Directory Services™ provided with NetWare v4.0. ◆ Provides a modular architecture that allows for more efficient use of memory and gives developers a more flexible platform. ◆ Takes advantage of memory-swapping technology and DOS redirection capability. ◆ Includes Packet Burst™ protocol and Large Internet Packet. ◆ Supports installed base of NetWare users by providing backward compatibility with NETX. Figure 1-1 shows the difference between NETX and the NetWare DOS Requester architectures. Figure 1-1 Comparison of NETX NETX DOS Requester and NetWare DOS Requester architectures NETX NETX.VLM DOS NetWare DOS Requester IPXODI DOS IPXODI Link Link Support Support Layer Layer LAN LAN driver driver Network Network board board 2 Overview The NetWare DOS Requester file replaces NETX.COM. It is recommended that you upgrade your workstation to use the new workstation files. Complete installation of the new workstation files by referencing Workstation Basics and Installation for information and procedures. If you chose to not upgrade your workstation to use the NetWare DOS Requester, continue reading the following sections. The Netware Shell Workstation Environment The key components of the NetWare shell workstation environment are four terminate-and stay-resident (TSR) programs: ◆ LSL™ (Link Support Layer™) ◆ A network board driver (example: NE2000) ◆ IPXODI (Internetwork Packet Exchange Open Data-Link Interface) ◆ NETX (the network shell) If an ODI™-compliant board driver is not available, your workstation environment will consist of two terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs: ◆ IPX™ dedicated IPX driver (non-ODI) ◆ NETX (the network shell) The LSL.COM, network board driver.COM and IPXODI.COM files replace IPX.COM. It is recommended that you upgrade your workstation to use the new workstation files. See Chapter 3, “Installing a NetWare Workstation,” of Workstation Basics and Installation for information and procedures on using a program-based installation, or install the files manually by using the procedure in the following section. Using the NetWare Shell Files 3 Decompressing the LSL, Network Board Driver, and IPXODI Files The following workstation files are in compressed format on the WSDOS_1 and WSDRV_1 diskettes. ◆ LSL.COM ◆ network board driver.COM ◆ IPXODI.COM You must decompress these files to use them on your workstation. If your workstation software is on CD-ROM, go to “Creating Workstation Installation Diskettes from CD-ROM” in Chapter 2 of Workstation Basics and Installation. Procedure Procedure 12 1. Decompress and copy the LSL.COM and IPXODI.COM files from 3 the WSDOS_1 diskette to your workstation directory. To decompress a file, type NLUNPACK <filename> [destination_directory:] <Enter> For example, to expand LSL.COM, type NLUNPACK A:LSL.CO_ C:\NWCLIENT <Enter> 2. Decompress and copy the appropriate network board driver.COM file from the WSDRV_1 diskette to your workstation directory. To decompress a file, type NLUNPACK <filename> [destination_directory:] <Enter> To expand NE2000.COM for example, type NLUNPACK A:\DOS\NE2000.CO_ C:\NWCLIENT <Enter> 4 Overview 3. Ensure that a NET.CFG file exists in the same directory as your workstation files. For information on how to create a NET.CFG file, see Chapter 2, “Configuring Your Workstation,” of Workstation for DOS and Windows. 4. Update your workstation’s NetWare shell files. If you want to update the workstation NetWare shell file from your login directory, go to “Updating the NetWare Shell Files from the LOGIN Directory” on page 15. If you want to update the workstation NetWare shell file from from diskette, go to “Updating the NetWare Shell Files from Diskette” on page 17. Updating the NetWare Shell Files from the LOGIN Directory This section applies only to workstations that already have a previous version of NetWare shell files installed. If you are installing a new NetWare workstation, go to “Updating the NetWare Shell Files from Diskette” on page 17. The following checklists and procedures will help you set up your workstation for updating NetWare shell files from the LOGIN directory. Prerequisites Checklist ❏ Ensure that the server you log in to is upgraded and running NetWare v3.12 ❏ Ensure that a previous version of the NetWare shell files are loaded on your workstation. ❏ Ensure that a copy of the following NetWare shell files exist in your LOGIN directory: ◆ EMSNETX.EXE ◆ NETX.EXE ◆ XMSNETX.EXE Using the NetWare Shell Files 5 Procedure 1 Procedure 23 1. Change to the LOGIN directory. 2. Copy the appropriate NetWare shell file for your workstation to your boot diskette or workstation directory. For example, to copy NETX.EXE, you would type COPY NETX.EXE drive_letter:\client_directory <Enter> Replace drive_letter and client_directory with the drive letter and directory containing your workstation files. For example, if your workstation files are copied to the NWCLIENT directory on drive C:, you would type COPY NETX.EXE C:\NWCLIENT <Enter> or, for a boot diskette, you might type COPY NETX.EXE A:\ <Enter> If your workstation is capable of extended or expanded memory support, replace NETX.EXE with the file which corresponds to the type of memory support you have: ◆ XMSNETX.EXE (for extended memory) ◆ EMSNETX.EXE (for expanded memory) 3. Reboot your workstation. 4. Load the new NetWare shell file. Commonly, the workstation files are loaded automatically from a batch file. If you want to load the files manually, go to “Loading the Workstation Files” on page 18. 6 Overview Updating the NetWare Shell Files from Diskette To copy files directly from diskettes, follow these steps. Procedure 1 Procedure 23 1. Format a DOS diskette. 2. Copy all the files in the LOGIN subdirectory on the NetWare v3.12 SYSTEM_3 diskette to the formatted diskette by typing COPY source_directory:\wild_card destination_directory: <Enter> For example, type COPY A:LOGIN\*.* B: <Enter> 3. Label the formatted diskette “NetWare Shell Files.” 4. Insert the “NetWare Shell Files” diskette into a floppy disk drive and change to that drive. For example, if you have inserted the diskette into drive A:, type A: <Enter> 5. Copy the appropriate NetWare shell file for your workstation to your boot diskette or workstation directory. For example, to copy NETX.EXE, you would type COPY NETX.EXE drive_letter:\client_directory <Enter> Replace drive_letter and client_directory with the drive letter and directory containing your workstation files. For example, if your workstation files are copied to the NWCLIENT directory on drive C:, you would type COPY NETX.EXE C:\NWCLIENT <Enter> or, for a boot diskette, you might type COPY NETX.EXE A:\ <Enter> Using the NetWare Shell Files 7 If your workstation is capable of extended or expanded memory support, replace NETX.EXE with the file which corresponds to the type of memory support you have: ◆ XMSNETX.EXE (for extended memory) ◆ EMSNETX.EXE (for expanded memory) 6. Reboot your workstation. 7. Load the new NetWare shell file. Commonly, the workstation files are loaded automatically from a batch file. If you want to load the files manually, go to “Loading the Workstation Files” on page 18. Loading the Workstation Files You can load the NetWare workstation files from the command line or from a batch file. Loading from the Command Line Procedure 1 Procedure 23 1. Change to your workstation directory by typing CD\workstation_directory <Enter> 2. Load the workstation files in the following order: LSL <Enter> network board driver.COM <Enter> IPXODI <Enter> NETX <Enter> 8 Overview Loading from a Batch File An example of a batch file using a NE2000 network board driver is as follows: @ECHO OFF C: CD \NWCLIENT LSL NE2000.COM IPXODI NETX CD \ For command options and concepts, see “Understanding NetWare Shell File Command Options and Concepts” on page 30. Understanding the NET.CFG File for the NetWare Shell The NET.CFG file is a specialized text file that you create with any ASCII text editor and include in your workstaion directory or on a workstation boot diskette with any other necessary boot files. Like the DOS CONFIG.SYS file, the NET.CFG file contains configuration values that are read and interpreted when your workstation starts up. These values adjust the default operating parameter settings of the NetWare shell, IPX, or other workstation files. Note The NET.CFG file replaces the previous shell configuration file named SHELL.CFG. See Chapter 2, “Configuring Your Workstation,” of Workstation for DOS and Windows for information on the NET.CFG file. Using the NetWare Shell Files 9 Using a NET.CFG File Use entries in the NET.CFG file to change the workstation’s network environment or configuration. For example, you might want to change the configuration in these cases: ◆ You changed the default hardware settings on the network board.